about hand skill

[applicant]

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Hi.

I am a college student interested in pursuing dentistry.

I hear a lot that dentistry requires good hand skill.
And, frankly, I am not sure if I am good with my hands; I don't know if I am good or bad with my hand because I don't recall using my hand conciously as to test for my hand skill.

Is hand skill something that I would have to worry about?
and such that if I don't think I am good with my hand, then I should not pursue dentistry?

I would like to know about hand skill aspect of dentistry as much as possible
and how I should go about this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JavadiCavity]

You'll develop your handskills in dental school. Your ability to work with the instruments in a small place, use your handpiece effectively, and do some basic labwork on the benchtop are all courses you'll spend hours during the day and night working on. Some students don't seem to ever catch on, but my belief is that these are the students who don't spend the extra time that everyone else does to master their handskills.

 

[NoBraces]

Develop hand skills NOW! 😱 Get yourself a game console (i.e. Xbox, GameCube, PS2, etc.) and play video games! Doing this consistently for hours daily will result in better hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2005Feb/gee20050228029359.htm

 

[L8DYV]

Develop hand skills NOW! 😱 Get yourself a game console (i.e. Xbox, GameCube, PS2, etc.) and play video games! Doing this consistently for hours daily will result in better hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2005Feb/gee20050228029359.htm

that's right, video games---try that new PSP (portable sony playstation) and let us know how it works for you!! 🙂

 

[NoBraces]

that's right, video games---try that new PSP (portable sony playstation) and let us know how it works for you!! 🙂

I prefer the Nintendo DS for on-the-go hand skill development 😀

 

[phremius]

most people if they dont' start dental school w/ the necessary handskills develop it during. However, there is always a few who just seems like they can never "get it", some of that is due to not practicing, some of it is just due to.. well, not having it and they usually are weeded out. Fortunately that percentage is very very small.

 

[L8DYV]

I prefer the Nintendo DS for on-the-go hand skill development 😀

LOL!

 

[dentalman]

Have you done ANYTHING with your hands? Origami? Video games? Sketching? Guitar? If you KNOW you are bad with your hands, dentistry is not for you, since you use them everyday.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Dentistry requires some hand skills, but that certainly isn't all that it requires. Don't worry about it.

 

[LarryBobDDS]

Per my faculty....You can train a monkey to drill a hole in a tooth. A doctor has to be able to use knowledge to objectively and accurately diagnose oral and systemic pathology.

 

[ShawnOne]

Per my faculty....You can train a monkey to drill a hole in a tooth. A doctor has to be able to use knowledge to objectively and accurately diagnose oral and systemic pathology.

Learning to cut an ideal CVC prep with a perfect .65mm outline, .65mm gingival axial reduction, a nice even continuous bevel, proper 6 degree tapered axial walls at the correct depth, a decent looking occlusal reduction, while making sure you dont damage adjacent teeth, all on #15 using indirect vision with proper ergonomics is a little different than "drilling a hole".

 

[NUKE]

I think the most important skills are a steady hand and good concentration. Try threading a needle. If it takes less than 45 min. you are ready for dentistry... or at least ortho.

 

[ShawnOne]

Here are a list of qualities: feel free to add

Steady hands
Concentration
Hand-eye coordination
Patience
Persistance
Knowing and envisioning your goal
Good eyesight

 

[ShawnOne]

oh, and lots of $$$ to buy those darn plastic teeth

 

[galangvu]

here's a problem i have... when i wear those face mask and my eye glasses... my glasses always fog up so i cant wear them when i work.... my solution as a dental assistant, I skip out on the eye wear and I stand instead of sitting down so im as far away from the patient's mouth as I can possibly get. but as a dentist... i cant do that. so whats the fix?

 

[aphistis]

Learning to cut an ideal CVC prep with a perfect .65mm outline, .65mm gingival axial reduction, a nice even continuous bevel, proper 6 degree tapered axial walls at the correct depth, a decent looking occlusal reduction, while making sure you dont damage adjacent teeth, all on #15 using indirect vision with proper ergonomics is a little different than "drilling a hole".

Not to disparage the profession or the precision hand skills dentistry requires, but what you're going to find out in one big hurry in clinic is that perfect dentistry of the sort you're describing is frequently just plain impossible to do in a clinical setting. That's not to say we shouldn't provide the best dentistry possible in a given situation...but sometimes the situation doesn't allow for textbook ideals.

 

[aphistis]

here's a problem i have... when i wear those face mask and my eye glasses... my glasses always fog up so i cant wear them when i work.... my solution as a dental assistant, I skip out on the eye wear and I stand instead of sitting down so im as far away from the patient's mouth as I can possibly get. but as a dentist... i cant do that. so whats the fix?

Rain-X. Works wonders.

 

[toofache32]

Rain-X. Works wonders.

Are you serious? I never thought of that.

 

[ShawnOne]

here's a problem i have... when i wear those face mask and my eye glasses... my glasses always fog up so i cant wear them when i work.... my solution as a dental assistant, I skip out on the eye wear and I stand instead of sitting down so im as far away from the patient's mouth as I can possibly get. but as a dentist... i cant do that. so whats the fix?

Try twisting the the earbands (basically looping them) and tightening it around your nose. That will create openings from the sides, that way your breath will escape sideways instead of upward onto your glasses. Guaranteed it works.

 

[ShawnOne]

Not to disparage the profession or the precision hand skills dentistry requires, but what you're going to find out in one big hurry in clinic is that perfect dentistry of the sort you're describing is frequently just plain impossible to do in a clinical setting. That's not to say we shouldn't provide the best dentistry possible in a given situation...but sometimes the situation doesn't allow for textbook ideals.

I agree. In the clinic your prep design will be dictated by caries, decalcifications, your abilities, etc. But in the sim lab and on practicals you're expected to deliver a money prep and you have to pass your lab classes. If you dont pass your lab courses at SC you wont be allowed to perform indirect procedures, or at least this is what they threaten..

 

[LarryBobDDS]

Learning to cut an ideal CVC prep with a perfect .65mm outline, .65mm gingival axial reduction, a nice even continuous bevel, proper 6 degree tapered axial walls at the correct depth, a decent looking occlusal reduction, while making sure you dont damage adjacent teeth, all on #15 using indirect vision with proper ergonomics is a little different than "drilling a hole".

Well sounds like you've mastered resin teeth. Next thing you know youll be up to real patients.

 

[ShawnOne]

Well sounds like you've mastered resin teeth. Next thing you know youll be up to real patients.

Yes indeed, then I can start drilling holes like a monkey..

 

[LarryBobDDS]

Yes indeed, then I can start drilling holes like a monkey..

And with luck youll develop the rest of the aspects we've mentioned about becoming a real doctor clinically. But without doubt, your program will not allow otherwise.

 

[TeethVader]

I'm also at SC and believe me! My hand skills suck and have been struggling to finish my work on time. I hope not to be one of those exceptions that must be weed out; however, sometimes I feel like so. Interesting how D-schools are so concern with GPA and DAT scores when what they should really focus on, should be manual dexterity skills. I mean, I always do great on tests, quizes, and overall academics; but when I hit SIM lab, I suck and end up staying late. Some of my classmates had to apply twice and some even three times to get accepted to USC dental; however, they have been involved in the dental field and are great with their hands. I only had to apply once mainly due to my GPA and DAT scores. All I hope for is to greatly improve my hand skills and I've realize this to be one of my life's greatest challenges.

 

[LarryBobDDS]

I'm also at SC and believe me! My hand skills suck and have been struggling to finish my work on time. I hope not to be one of those exceptions that must be weed out; however, sometimes I feel like so. Interesting how D-schools are so concern with GPA and DAT scores when what they should really focus on, should be manual dexterity skills. I mean, I always do great on tests, quizes, and overall academics; but when I hit SIM lab, I suck and end up staying late. Some of my classmates had to apply twice and some even three times to get accepted to USC dental; however, they have been involved in the dental field and are great with their hands. I only had to apply once mainly due to my GPA and DAT scores. All I hope for is to greatly improve my hand skills and I've realize this to be one of my life's greatest challenges.

Your handskills will improve without a doubt. There are many factors involved, and I assume you are still cutting resin teeth. There is no comparison in cutting resin teeth and real teeth. Its just a good deal easier to cut real teeth and not every slide out with a slow speed will ruin your life. Just keep practicing. While a lot of us have great handskills early, I've seen some of my friends go from terrible handskills to pretty decent handskills from when we started to when we graduated. Remember, if you can do clincally acceptable work in school, dentistry is a life long affair. You will improve past dental school as long as you can practice and plug away enough during school to pass all your expectations.

 

[TeethVader]

Your handskills will improve without a doubt. There are many factors involved, and I assume you are still cutting resin teeth. There is no comparison in cutting resin teeth and real teeth. Its just a good deal easier to cut real teeth and not every slide out with a slow speed will ruin your life. Just keep practicing. While a lot of us have great handskills early, I've seen some of my friends go from terrible handskills to pretty decent handskills from when we started to when we graduated. Remember, if you can do clincally acceptable work in school, dentistry is a life long affair. You will improve past dental school as long as you can practice and plug away enough during school to pass all your expectations.

Thanks for the encouragement man! I will definitely practice and practice like crazy until I furnish the best products I'm capable of finishing

 

[Doggie]

Rain-X. Works wonders.

I use some soap and rub it on the inside, then wipe clean with something. Cheap, free, and works wonders.

 

[Regina330]

ShawnOne: I don't remember seeing "your abilities" as one of the six determinants of prep design on the criteria sheet! Maybe you should review it!